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Crosslinked poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] membranes: Characterization and pervaporation of aqueous tetrahydrofuran mixtures

Claes, Stan ; Vandezande, Pieter ; Mullens, Steven ; Adriaensens, Peter ; Peeters, Roos ; Maurer, Frans LU and Van Bael, Marlies K. (2012) In Journal of Membrane Science 389. p.459-469
Abstract
To enhance their applicability in a broader range of pervaporation feed streams, poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP) membranes have been successfully crosslinked, using a 3,3'-diazido-diphenylsulfone crosslinker. Both photochemical and thermal processes were used to activate the bis(azide) and thus initiate the crosslink reaction. The presented photochemical crosslink process, has an insufficient efficiency, due to the unreacted bis(azide) and the formation of by-products such as carboxylic acids. On the other hand, thermal annealing at temperatures of at least 160 degrees C allows successful crosslinking of FTMSP. In contrast to photochemical crosslinking, the bis(azide) completely decomposes after thermal treatment, rendering the... (More)
To enhance their applicability in a broader range of pervaporation feed streams, poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP) membranes have been successfully crosslinked, using a 3,3'-diazido-diphenylsulfone crosslinker. Both photochemical and thermal processes were used to activate the bis(azide) and thus initiate the crosslink reaction. The presented photochemical crosslink process, has an insufficient efficiency, due to the unreacted bis(azide) and the formation of by-products such as carboxylic acids. On the other hand, thermal annealing at temperatures of at least 160 degrees C allows successful crosslinking of FTMSP. In contrast to photochemical crosslinking, the bis(azide) completely decomposes after thermal treatment, rendering the membranes insoluble in solvents that dissolve the uncrosslinked polymer, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), n-heptane and methyl-tert-butyl ether. All membranes were extensively characterized by means of infrared analysis, solid-state H-1-wideline NMR, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, swelling capacity measurements and pervaporation measurements. These techniques, allowed to gain insight in the crosslink reaction mechanism, crosslinking density of the crosslinked polymer network, changes in the free volume cavity sizes, solvent resistance and pervaporation performance, respectively. The potential of the thermally crosslinked PTMSP membranes in the removal of demanding solvents from aqueous mixtures was illustrated by pervaporation tests on dilute THF/water mixtures. The membrane containing 15 wt.% of crosslinker and treated at 180 degrees C during 1.5 h showed specific permeation rates that are approximately 4 times higher than those of the commercially available polydimethylsiloxane-based membranes, combined with competitive THF/water separation factors. Feed streams containing 10 wt.% THF could be enriched up to 84 wt.% THF in the permeate. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
PTMSP, Swelling, Crosslinking, 3 '-Diazido-diphenylsulfone, 3, Liquid separation
in
Journal of Membrane Science
volume
389
pages
459 - 469
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000300529100052
  • scopus:83855162163
ISSN
0376-7388
DOI
10.1016/j.memsci.2011.11.014
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Polymer and Materials Chemistry (LTH) (011001041)
id
10ef36e8-7ff1-46d2-8e3c-bbc077952f80 (old id 2403187)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:30:00
date last changed
2022-01-28 00:57:23
@article{10ef36e8-7ff1-46d2-8e3c-bbc077952f80,
  abstract     = {{To enhance their applicability in a broader range of pervaporation feed streams, poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP) membranes have been successfully crosslinked, using a 3,3'-diazido-diphenylsulfone crosslinker. Both photochemical and thermal processes were used to activate the bis(azide) and thus initiate the crosslink reaction. The presented photochemical crosslink process, has an insufficient efficiency, due to the unreacted bis(azide) and the formation of by-products such as carboxylic acids. On the other hand, thermal annealing at temperatures of at least 160 degrees C allows successful crosslinking of FTMSP. In contrast to photochemical crosslinking, the bis(azide) completely decomposes after thermal treatment, rendering the membranes insoluble in solvents that dissolve the uncrosslinked polymer, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), n-heptane and methyl-tert-butyl ether. All membranes were extensively characterized by means of infrared analysis, solid-state H-1-wideline NMR, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, swelling capacity measurements and pervaporation measurements. These techniques, allowed to gain insight in the crosslink reaction mechanism, crosslinking density of the crosslinked polymer network, changes in the free volume cavity sizes, solvent resistance and pervaporation performance, respectively. The potential of the thermally crosslinked PTMSP membranes in the removal of demanding solvents from aqueous mixtures was illustrated by pervaporation tests on dilute THF/water mixtures. The membrane containing 15 wt.% of crosslinker and treated at 180 degrees C during 1.5 h showed specific permeation rates that are approximately 4 times higher than those of the commercially available polydimethylsiloxane-based membranes, combined with competitive THF/water separation factors. Feed streams containing 10 wt.% THF could be enriched up to 84 wt.% THF in the permeate. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Claes, Stan and Vandezande, Pieter and Mullens, Steven and Adriaensens, Peter and Peeters, Roos and Maurer, Frans and Van Bael, Marlies K.}},
  issn         = {{0376-7388}},
  keywords     = {{PTMSP; Swelling; Crosslinking; 3 '-Diazido-diphenylsulfone; 3; Liquid separation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{459--469}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Membrane Science}},
  title        = {{Crosslinked poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] membranes: Characterization and pervaporation of aqueous tetrahydrofuran mixtures}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2011.11.014}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.memsci.2011.11.014}},
  volume       = {{389}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}